Parenting

Booklets

This colorful booklet lists all the ritual items needed for the Passover table. The history and significance of each item on the seder plate is explained, as are the customs that have been handed down through the generations in different centers of Jewish life.

Events

InterfaithFamily and the Workmen's Circle are celebrating Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for the trees, and you're invited!
Join us for a FREE afternoon filled with food, music, art projects and social justice.

For Program Providers

A great way for Jewish professionals and volunteers who work with and provide programming for people in interfaith relationships to locate resources and trainings to build more welcome into their Jewish communities; connect with and learn from each other; and publicize and enhance their programs and services.

Blogs

January 8, 2013 eNewsletter - Chicago

January 8, 2013

Dear Friends,Welcome to the first eNewsletter of 2013! This is a milestone for us: we're now sending out 4 localized editions (including this one) in addition to the "national" edition. Want more information on this initiative? Visit InterfaithFamily.com/YourCommunity — and let us know if your community is ready for us!

ChicagolandIFF/Chicago is doing a monthly drawing to reward one of our Network members. Starting this month, we'll hold three monthly drawings, awarding one lucky Network member a $25 American Express giftcard! You must be a member of the Network to qualify. Join here! Forward this to your friends to join too!

Congratulations to Caryn F. of Chicago who won December's drawing!

Have you heard about the workshops and classes being offered in Chicagoland this winter?

Love and Religion, a four-session workshop over four weeks for newly married or seriously dating interfaith couples to talk about how to have religious traditions in their lives together. The first session meets in person and the next three meet online with multipoint video conferencing. The next Love and Religion - Online workshop starts on February 28, 2013. Click here for more information and to register.

SpiritualityAs we move into 2013, what better opportunity than a New Year to make time to be more thankful? Jewish tradition sanctifies time with blessings and holidays, calling us to live in the present, to open our eyes, to give thanks, to be here now! Whether giving thanks for our food, for good news, or for the world around us, there are many ways to show our excitement and appreciation. Read more in Blessings For All Occasions.

What aspects of Judaism have you "discovered" that you've decided to try on, explore, and keep around? Which haven't worked for you in the past, but make more sense today? Rebecca Goodman, director of InterfaithFamily/San Francisco, reminds us that Judaism isn't stagnant! There's always something new to explore or try on for size. Read more in Does It Fit?

RelationshipsAre you in a new interfaith relationship? Did your partner propose on New Year's Eve? Were you recently married? Successful relationships are built on flexibility, communication, and a willingness to keep working on the partnership. Jim Keen shares his best advice for keeping a relationship strong. Read more in Ten Tips to Avoiding Conflict in an Interfaith Marriage.

Being in an interfaith relationship can sometimes hold more challenges. Same goes for being in an intercultural relationship. But Heather Subba's found that though she's an American Jew and her husband is a Nepali Hindu, the blessings outweigh the challenges — even when her in-laws move in. Read more in An Extended Love.

Weekly TorahThe timing couldn't have been better: as 2012 came to a close, we wrapped up the first book of the Torah and as 2013 began, we started the second book. Check out what Nechama Tamler had to say about the last portion of Genesis and the first of Exodus on the Animated Torahlog: presented by G-dcast.

Among other things, the family blessings (said on Shabbat) originate in this Torah portion. Of course, as we've come to expect, there's still family drama and a switch involved! Read (and watch) more in The End of Genesis.

We are officially leaving the fables about the "beginnings" of the world and our ancestors, and transitioning to the birth of the new nation. Going from being the Children of Israel (the person, who was also called Ya'akov/Jacob) to being the Children of Israel (the emerging nation of Israelites). Read (and watch) more in Welcome to Exodus!

ParentingThe decision to circumcise a baby can be difficult. Melissa explains her trepidation and the unexpectedly pleasant rewards. Read more in My Son's Circumcision.

On the blog, Ari Moffic, director of InterfaithFamily/Chicago, talks about the bar or bat mitzvah and how to make it accessible for your family. (Hint: our class for parents might help!) Read more in Jewish Dreams For Your Pre-Teen.

In her first blog post as a new staff, Rebecca Goodman looks at the secrets to a smooth bedtime routine for babies and toddlers. Read more in Bedtime Routines.

HolidaysAlmost a year til Christmas, but there's a post on the Parenting Blog about why Melissa celebrated last month — with gusto! Did you celebrate? Will you next year? Why or why not? Read more in Why I Still Celebrate Christmas.

With Christmas behind us (and time to cool off), how do you decide what food to serve at Christmas meals? Do kosher-style rules come into play? Check out Suzanne's blog post — and the comments. Read more in Christmas Eve Dinner Stress.

CommunityWhat does it mean to welcome interfaith couples to the Jewish community? Wendy Armon, director of InterfaithFamily/Philadelphia, learned the simple message from a wonderful role model. Read more in The Simplicity of Welcoming.

Are you a recently engaged interfaith couple with an interest in blogging for us? Or do you have an interesting story to share about a life-cycle event? About your extended (uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, grandparents, grandchildren) interfaith family? Are you LGBT and in an interfaith family? If so, I'd love to hear your story pitches! Contact me!

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Featured Organization
from Our NetworkJewish Child and Family Services offers programs and groups in Chicagoland ranging from support services to job training to teen initiatives to adoption. Call 1-855-Ask-JCFS to see if they have a program that interests you. Services are open to everybody.

One of 54 sections of the Torah read, during Shabbat services, in order on a weekly basis throughout the year. The Jewish Sabbath, from sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday.A member of the Jewish clergy who leads a congregation in songful prayer. ("Hazzan" in Hebrew.)Hebrew for "fit" (as in, "fit for consumption"), the Jewish dietary laws.Hebrew for "my master," the term refers to a spiritual leader and teacher of Torah. Often, but not always, a rabbi is the leader of a synagogue congregation. The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), or the scroll that contains them.